Abstract
Simple SummaryThe attractive forces generated in a static electric field, as well as corona and arc discharges generated in a dynamic electric field, are practical approaches for trapping and killing insects that enter the electric field. These electrostatic methods are realized by the conductive nature of the insect body. Thus, this work examined the role of body water on the conduction of electricity in the insect body. Adult houseflies (Musca domestica) were subjected to dehydration, rehydration, refrigeration, and freezing and thawing. These insects were then placed in static and dynamic electric fields to examine whether the release of negative charges from the insect caused attraction in the static field, as well as whether the fly was heated or dismembered when electricity passed through its body in a dynamic field. There was no current in the bodies of dehydrated and frozen flies; hence, there was no attractive force or discharge exposure. In the remaining insects, the results were identical to those in the control insects. Therefore, the conduction of electricity in the insect’s body water enables the insect-control effects of the electric fields.In the present study, the relationship between body water loss and conductivity was examined in adult houseflies (Musca domestica). The events an insect experiences in an electric field are caused by the conductive nature of the insect body (i.e., movement of electricity within or its release from the insect). After houseflies were dehydrated, rehydrated, refrigerated, and frozen and thawed, they were placed in static and dynamic electric fields. Untreated houseflies were deprived of their free electrons to become positively charged and then attracted to the insulated negative pole in the static electric field and were exposed to corona and arc discharge from non-insulated negative pole in the dynamic electric field. There was no current in the bodies of dehydrated and frozen flies; hence, there was no attractive force or discharge exposure. In the remaining insects, the results were identical to those in the untreated control insects. These results indicated that the reduction of body water conductivity inhibited the release of electricity from the body in the static electric field and the discharge-mediated current flow through the body in the dynamic electric field. The insect was affected by the electric fields because of its conductivity mediated by body water.
Highlights
Electrostatic phenomena that occur in electric fields have been used to manage insects, pathogens, and weeds as an alternative to pesticides, due to pesticide resistance and public demand to reduce overall pesticide use [1]
Electrostatic engineering has been applied to the design, construction, and control of electrical equipment that generates different electric fields, defined as the space surrounding an electric charge within which it is capable of exerting a perceptible force on another electric charge [2]
Insects exposed to corona and arc discharges were video recorded
Summary
Electrostatic phenomena that occur in electric fields have been used to manage insects, pathogens, and weeds as an alternative to pesticides, due to pesticide resistance and public demand to reduce overall pesticide use [1]. A non-insulated charged conductor produces a discharge-generating electric field, in which corona and arc discharges occur depending on the distance and potential difference between the two conductors [3]. In a static electric field, a negative charge will strongly repulse other negative charges (i.e., free electrons), pushing them out of the insect body toward the ground This causes the insect to become positively charged, attracting it to the negative charge of the conductor [15,16,17,18]. Insects that enter a discharge-generating electric field are selectively subjected to arc discharge from the non-insulated charged conductor, due to its higher between-conductor conductivity [14]. We frequently observed that some dead insects were not attracted or not subject to discharge exposure when they were placed in an electric field This led us to reconsider insect body conductivity. We discuss the possibility that body water conducts electricity in the insect body
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